. Bright skies and dark shadows . on that night he had occasion to go to theheadquarters, which were about two miles back from theroad, and there found Hood in consultation with GeneralForrest, at the conclusion of which he turned to Bate andsaid that no movement would be undertaken that night :for that Forrest had just reported to him that he couldeasily seize and hold the pike at a point above Spring Hill,which would prevent the passage of Schofield, so that inthe morning they would bag the whole Federal army ! While thus vindicating the good name of his oldfiiend, the Major takes occasion t
. Bright skies and dark shadows . on that night he had occasion to go to theheadquarters, which were about two miles back from theroad, and there found Hood in consultation with GeneralForrest, at the conclusion of which he turned to Bate andsaid that no movement would be undertaken that night :for that Forrest had just reported to him that he couldeasily seize and hold the pike at a point above Spring Hill,which would prevent the passage of Schofield, so that inthe morning they would bag the whole Federal army ! While thus vindicating the good name of his oldfiiend, the Major takes occasion to stamp out anothercruel story which has been permitted to float about indifferent quarters. As if the imputation of unmilitaryconduct in disobedience of orders, were not enough, thecharge is made still more odious by the explanation givenof this culpable neglect, viz : that General Cheatham wasgrossly intoxicated! This I myself have heard stated, notas a mere rumor, an idle report, but as something which MARCH TO SPRING HILL. m. FROM COLUMBIA TO SPRING HILL. 218 CHEATHAM VINDICATED. everybody knew in tlie army. To this Major Vaulxg^ves a peremptory denial. He says : I was with Gen. Cheatham when he was giving his ordersto Gen. Brown. The charge that he was intoxicated is false. Inever saw him more self-possessed than on that afternoon. Hegave his orders in a very plain and explicit manner. His wordsexpressed just what he wanted, and in such a manner that nodoubtful construction could be given them. To the same effect, ex-Governor Porter of Tennessee writes: I was with Cheatham during the entire day from Columbiato Spring Hill, and he was not only not intoxicated, but I ampositive that he did not taste nor see a drop of liquor of anykind. The injustice of a Commander-in-Chief throwing upona subordinate a responsibility which he should take uponhimself, is answered by the Major with this telling remark : ^General Hood was himself on the field, but a few hundredyards from Cheatha
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